Pass Over, Be Ready, and Stand In Awe

Joshua 4:10-24

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Joshua 4:10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over. (“the people passed over in haste” (ESV))

Joshua 4:11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the Lord passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.

Joshua 4:12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:

Joshua 4:13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

Joshua 4:14 On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

Joshua 4:15 And the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,

Joshua 4:16 “Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.”

Joshua 4:17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come ye up out of Jordan.”

Joshua 4:18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

Joshua 4:19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.

Joshua 4:20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.

Joshua 4:21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?

Joshua 4:22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

Joshua 4:23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

Joshua 4:24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.

Pass Over, but take your time… Vs. 10

Joshua 4:10 “For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.”

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

Habakkuk 2:3 “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, But at the end it shall speak, and not lie: Though it tarry, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Psalm 119:32 “I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart.”

Psalm 119:60 “I made haste, and delayed not To keep thy commandments.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

We have to be sensitive to the Speed of God… Bc there are times when we need to go Fast and times when we need to take our time…

Marry and Martha…. Luke 10:38–42 “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Fulfill your Promises….. Vs. 11-13

Joshua 4:11–13 “And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the Lord passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them: About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.”

Reuben/ Gad/ 1/2 Tribe of Manasseh

Numbers 30:2 “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”

Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”

Deuteronomy 23:21–23 “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.”

Fear/ Stand in Awe vs. 14-17

Joshua 4:14–17 “On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. And the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan. Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.”

Isaiah 6:1–8 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

In the Presence of God there is….

Overwhelming Awe and Fear…. Isa 6:1-5/ Exodus 3:1-6/ Ezek 1:28/ Dan. 10:7-9

Physical Collapse and Prostration

Revelation 1:17 “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:”

Luke 5:8 “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Protective Veiling of Divine Glory - Exodus 33:18-23 God told moses he could not see his face and live…

Mark your Calendar & Set a Reminder & Be a Reminder Vs 19-24

10th Day of the 1st Month

All is done so that ALL People will know the Mighty Power of God

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Moses Key Directive to Joshua was to be strong and courageous, and cause the people to inherit the land, and that God would be with Him…. Deuteronomy 31:7–8 “And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

Israel’s fear of Joshua reflected their recognition that God’s presence rested upon him with the same authority and power that had characterized Moses’s leadership. The people pledged to hearken unto Joshua as they had hearkened unto Moses, with the condition that the Lord their God be with Joshua as He was with Moses. (Josh 1:16–17) This fear was not terror but reverent respect—an acknowledgment that Joshua carried divine authority and that God’s purposes would be accomplished through his leadership.

!!! When you start remembering the most recent miricales God does in your life (Like crossing the Jordan River)….. Something happens and you begin to remember miricales that took place 40 years ago (At the Red Sea)

Fear Vs Awe…

If you mean what Moses commanded Joshua before Moses died, the main instructions are found in Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1.

Moses told Joshua to:

— do not be afraid or discouraged.Be strong and courageous 

and help them take possession of it.Lead the Israelites into the Promised Land 

and would not abandon him.Trust that God would go before him 

and carefully follow what God had commanded.Obey God's law 

, so they would continue to follow God's ways.Read and teach the Law to the people

, rather than relying solely on their own strength.Remember that God was the one giving them victory

One of Moses' most famous charges to Joshua was:

“Be strong and of a good courage: fear not, nor be thou afraid… for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

And God later gave Joshua essentially the same command:

“Be strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law.” — Joshua 1:7

If you mean everything Moses specifically told Joshua throughout the Bible, I can give you a verse-by-verse list of Moses' commands to Joshua.

!!!!!The tenth day of the first month carries profound theological significance, marking a deliberate parallel between Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and their entry into the Promised Land.

On the tenth day of the first month, each household was to select a lamb for the Passover (Exod 12:1–6)—the foundational act of redemption that preceded Israel’s exodus from Egypt. By crossing the Jordan and encamping in Gilgal on this same date, Israel was commemorating and reliving that pivotal moment of liberation. The timing was not coincidental but intentional, signaling that God’s redemptive work continued across generations.

The narrative reinforces this connection through subsequent events. Two days later, the children of Israel kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho (Josh 5:10–12)—exactly as prescribed in the original Exodus instructions. On the day after Passover, they ate of the old corn of the land, and the manna ceased; they no longer received manna but ate of the fruit of Canaan (Josh 5:10–12). This marked a decisive transition: the wilderness provision had ended, and the promised inheritance had begun.

The tenth day thus functions as a threshold moment. It positioned Israel between their past deliverance and their future conquest, inviting them to remember God’s faithfulness while stepping into new territory. The date anchored the Jordan crossing to Israel’s foundational redemptive narrative, declaring that the same God who brought them out of Egypt was now bringing them into the land He had sworn to their fathers. This temporal alignment transformed the crossing from a mere military maneuver into a continuation of God’s covenantal purposes.!!!!

Exodus 15:1–18 “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; My father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: They sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: Thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, The floods stood upright as an heap, And the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: They sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, The earth swallowed them. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. The people shall hear, and be afraid: Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; The mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; By the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; Till thy people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, In the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, In the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.”

Reflection Questions

1. Pass Over, but Take Your Time — Joshua 4:10

Where in my life am I tempted torather than wait for His direction? rush ahead of God 

How do I know the difference between a moment when God is telling me toand a moment when He is telling me to? move quickly  wait

Am I currently more like? Martha—busy and troubled—or Mary—willing to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen

What would it look like for me to become more sensitive to? the speed of God

Is there something I have been rushing because I am afraid that if I slow down, I will miss my opportunity?

Is there something God has told me to do that I am unnecessarily delaying?

What doeslook like in my decisions this week? “seek ye first the kingdom of God” 

Before I make my next major move, have I taken enough time to? hear from God

2. Fulfill Your Promises — Joshua 4:11–13

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had already received their inheritance, but they kept their commitment to help their brothers possess theirs.

What commitments have I made to God that I need to faithfully follow through on?

Have I ever made a promise to God during a difficult season and then forgotten about it once the difficulty passed?

Am I a person whose? “yes” can be trusted

Where might I be enjoying God's blessings while neglecting my responsibility to help someone else receive theirs?

What responsibility has God given me that I need to stop putting off?

Am I faithful only when something benefits me, or am I willing to serve when the blessing belongs to someone else?

What does faithfulness look like when? the battle I am fighting is not primarily for me

3. Fear God / Stand in Awe — Joshua 4:14–17

When was the last time I was genuinely? overwhelmed by the greatness and holiness of God

Has my relationship with God become so familiar that I have lost my sense of? reverence and awe

Do I fear God in the biblical sense—not merely being afraid of Him, but recognizing His holiness, authority, greatness, and power?

What happens to my attitude toward sin when I truly recognize? who God is

When I come into God's presence, am I primarily focused on what, or am I stopping to recognize? I want from Him who He is

How does Isaiah's response——challenge the way I approach God?“Woe is me… for I am undone”

What would change in my worship if I came each week with a greater awareness of God's holiness?

4. Remember What God Has Done — Joshua 4:19–23

What are thein my life—times when God made a way where I could not see one? “Jordan River moments” 

What miracle or answer to prayer has God donethat I need to stop and remember? recently 

How often do I allow God's latest faithfulness to remind me of things He did? years ago

Have I forgotten something God did for me simply because enough time has passed?

What “stones” of remembrance has God placed in my life?

If someone asked me,, what would I tell them? “What has God done for you?”

What stories of God's faithfulness should I be telling my children, grandchildren, family, or church family?

Am I more focused on theor on the God who has already brought me through other impossible situations? current Jordan in front of me 

5. Mark Your Calendar — Joshua 4:19–24

What spiritual milestones in my life should I intentionally remember?

Do I have specific dates, places, Scriptures, or moments that remind me of God's faithfulness?

What practices could I establish so that I don't forget what God has done?

What am I doing to help the? next generation remember God's faithfulness

If my children or grandchildren asked me,, what testimony would I give them? “What do these stones mean?”

What story of God's faithfulness do I need to tell someone this week?

6. From Fear to Awe

Is my view of God currently producing? terror, casualness, or reverent awe

Do I recognize that the same God who is mighty enough to part the Jordan is also the God who is personally present with me?

How does God's power give me courage rather than fear?

What would I attempt for God if I truly believed? “the Lord your God… is mighty”

Where do I need to replace fear of circumstances with? awe of God

Invitation Questions

These could work especially well as you move toward the invitation at the end of the sermon.

An Invitation to Trust God's Timing

Are you standing at a Jordan River right now, wondering when God is going to make a way?

Are you willing to trust God's timing rather than forcing your own?

Is God telling you to, or is He telling you to? move wait

Will you surrender your timeline to God's timing today?

An Invitation to Obedience

What has God already told you to do that you need to obey?

Is there a promise you made to God that you need to fulfill?

Is there an area where God has been saying “Go,” but you keep saying “Not yet”?

Are you willing to say,? “Lord, whatever You have commanded me, I will do it”

An Invitation to Reverence

Have you lost your awe of God?

Have you become so familiar with church, worship, and Scripture that you have forgotten that you are standing before a holy God?

Do you need to come back to a place of? reverence, repentance, and worship

Like Isaiah, are you ready to say,? “Here am I; send me”

An Invitation to Remember

What has God brought you through that you have forgotten?

What “stone” of remembrance do you need to pick up today?

What recent miracle should remind you of God's faithfulness from years ago?

Before you focus on the next Jordan you have to cross, will you stop and remember the Red Seas God has already brought you through?

An Invitation to Testify

Joshua says the stones were ultimately about “that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty.”

Who needs to hear your story of what God has done?

Is there someone in your family who needs to hear about God's faithfulness?

Is there someone in our community who needs to know that God still makes a way?

Are you willing to let what God has done in your life become a testimony that points someone else to Him?

A Strong Final Invitation

You could bring the entire message together with these five questions:

What is your Jordan? What is God asking you to do? Where do you need to slow down and wait on Him? What has God already done that you need to remember? And who needs to hear about the mighty hand of God through your testimony?

Then land on Joshua 4:24:

“That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty.”

The goal isn't simply that Israel crossed the Jordan. The goal was that people would know who made the crossing possible.

God's miracles are not merely meant to get us through something—they are meant to point people to Someone.